NFL owners voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the sale of the Seattle Seahawks to a group led by Vinod Khosla and his family, in a deal valued at $9.612 billion — the largest sum ever paid for an NFL franchise.
The sale, first agreed upon on July 11 between the Khosla family and the Paul G. Allen Estate, surpasses the previous record of $6.05 billion paid for the Washington Commanders in 2023. The Seahawks had been owned by the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen since his death in 2018, with his sister, Jody Allen, serving as chair and steward of the franchise in the years since. The sale process began formally on February 18, in accordance with directives in Allen's will calling for the eventual sale of his sports assets.
Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the timing of the purchase during the announcement in Atlanta. "It's not very often you can buy a Super Bowl championship team, but you've done that," Goodell said. "Many of our members struggle to find ways to get in the Super Bowl and win a trophy and you'll be walking into your new building shortly with a fresh, shiny trophy there for you." The Seahawks are coming off their second Super Bowl title in franchise history, having defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in February.
Vinod Khosla, who previously held a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers, will be required to relinquish that ownership position as part of the Seahawks purchase. Goodell noted that the family's prior NFL experience worked in their favor with fellow owners. "They know our league well," Goodell said. "As you know, they have been ownership in the NFC West with the San Francisco 49ers. They understand the passion of the NFL, they understand the 12s, they understand this Seattle community and the NFL."
Neeru Khosla, Vinod's wife, is expected to serve as the team's controlling owner, while their son, Neal Khosla — reportedly the family member who pushed hardest for the purchase — is expected to take on a significant leadership role within the new ownership group. Neal previously interned with the 49ers and has long expressed interest in strategic involvement with an NFL franchise.
Speaking at the owners' meeting, Vinod Khosla reflected on the opportunity. "How often do you get to buy a franchise that just won the Super Bowl?" he said. "We are incredibly lucky and humbled by this gift, I would say, from the Allen trust." He also acknowledged the team's fanbase directly, thanking Seattle's "12s" for their passion, and said the family's approach to ownership would be long-term focused. "Obviously, we're not owners yet and we need to learn a lot more," Khosla added, "but we will work with management and with others and with the community in Seattle to hopefully preserve this iconic brand."
The sale is expected to officially close in September, pending completion of final financial and legal documentation between the Khosla family and the Allen Trust.